China Is 3-D Printing Parts For Her New J-31 5th Gen. Stealth Air Superiority Fighter

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J-31 Stealth Air Superiority Fighter

J-31 Stealth Air Superiority Fighter
The Shenyang F60, formally designated the J-31, is the other half of the J-XX project. The J-31 is the slower, steadier maturation of fifth generation technology. The J-31 will follow two years after the J-20 and incorporate many of the same technological breakthroughs. But the aircraft, benefiting from a smaller airframe and the absence of canards as well as improved design capability, will benefit from substantially enhanced stealth when compared to the J-20. And, unlike the J-20, the J-31 was designed with a ‘go anywhere’ philosophy in mind.

While the J-20′s primary role is that of maritime strike (and, thus, is an area denial weapon), the J-31 has a much more direct role: air superiority. It is designed to be operated from a carrier deck and fly combat air patrol missions in what may very well be hostile territory. It is designed to be operated as a STOL fighter; a STOVL variant was initially planned but the fiasco of the F-35B promptly convinced Shenyang to put that notion on the backburner.

The J-31 trades the J-20′s impressive air-to-ground capability for a very limited loadout. While it retains the same general internal bay design philosophy (one central bay, two auxiliary bays), the individual bays are smaller and rated for substantially lighter munitions.

While the J-20 can carry 2,000kg of ordinance in its main internal bay, the J-31 is limited to a mere 1,000kg. While the J-20′s auxiliary bays are rated for the enormous R-37 (which is relegated to the main fuselage bay in the J-31), the J-31′s auxiliary bays are rated for a relatively anemic 250kg each.

While the J-20′s total internal capacity is approximately 3,000kg, the J-31′s internal capacity is a mere 1,500kg. This is roughly on par with the estimated capacity of the F-22′s internal payload and is believed to be on par with or inferior to the Su-50′s internal payload.

Specifications ;

Crew: 1
Length: 18m
Wingspan: 13.3m
Height: 4.2m
Wing area: 68m^2
Empty weight: 15,250kg
Max takeoff weight: 31,500kg
Powerplant: 2x WS-15V
Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (Supercruise: Mach 1.5)
Range: 2,750km
Combat radius: 900km
Service ceiling: 20,000 m (65,617 ft)
Internal Payload: One primary internal bay (under fuselage) with modular loadout of 1-4 hardpoints for a total internal capacity of 1,000kg; two auxiliary internal bays with 1 hardpoint rated for AAMs (for missiles in the sub-250kg weight class).
External Payload: 5000kg over 6 other hardpoints (one on each wingtip, two under each wing) for a total (stealthy and non-stealthy) payload of 6,500kg.

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